MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has imposed an eight-year suspension on Russian race walker Yekaterina Medvedeva citing violations of anti-doping regulations, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced in a statement on Friday.

According to the AIU, the suspension against the 25-year-old Russian track and field athlete was imposed due to "Use of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method" and comes into force on March 27, 2019.

A probe against Medvedeva was launched in February 2019. Her eight-year suspension comes into force on March 27, 2019 and all results achieved by the athlete between January 31, 2018 and March 27, 2019 will be annulled.

In 2013, Medvedeva was suspended for two-years for doping abuse. The race walker returned to the sport after her suspension term expired on June 12, 2015.

Medvedeva is the winner of the 2012 IAAF World Race Walking Cup in 10 km distance and is also the winner of one of the Russian championships.

The Athletics Integrity Unit was established by IAAF in April 2017 with the task to fight doping in the sport of track and field athletics. The AIU, led by Brett Clothier, is operating independently from the world’s governing body of athletics.